Chapter 363 The Song Dynasty Navy

At the end of September in the fifteenth year of Chongxi in Liao Dynasty, Yelu Zongzhen returned from Liaoyang Prefecture in Tokyo and headed for Xijin Prefecture in Nanjing.

Attacking Goryeo was just a cover, and the real target of Liao Dynasty was Song Dynasty.

If Song Dynasty rushed to help Goryeo, it would inevitably cause Hebei Road to be empty, and he could judge the situation and choose to take the initiative to attack or harass from the side.

If Song Dynasty went north to attack Liao Dynasty and besiege Wei to save Zhao, he could also resist with heavy troops and fight a defensive counterattack.

The attack of Liao Dynasty and Xixia on the allies of Song Dynasty was itself to mobilize the army of Song Dynasty, which also responded to the sentence in "The Art of War" that "a good fighter should first be invincible, and then wait for the enemy to be defeated".

This strategy can also be understood as a kind of mobile warfare in our time, firing a shot in the east and a shot in the west, making the enemy exhausted, and finally revealing a flaw and being killed by a fatal blow.

It must be said that this strategy is relatively clever.

After all, the mobility of the Liao Kingdom and Xixia armies was still stronger than that of the Song Dynasty. Even though the Song Dynasty had bought a lot of horses in recent years and made up for certain shortcomings, it was not a horse-producing country after all, and the number and quality of horses could not be compared with the two countries.

So the two countries still had a certain advantage in mobility.

At the same time, this was also the reason why the Liao Kingdom and Xixia feared the steam locomotives of the Song Dynasty.

Once the steam locomotives were built to Shaanxi and Hebei, the only remaining advantage of the Liao Kingdom and Xixia would be gone, and they would be completely reduced to the target of beating in the future.

Therefore, they were forced to start the Three Kingdoms War.

In early October, Yelu Zongzhen went from Shenyang Prefecture to Xijin Prefecture, and at the same time, the internal response of the Liao Kingdom in the Song Dynasty also grasped certain military trends.

Fan Zhongyan took 30,000 imperial troops from Bianliang and went to Hebei Road with great fanfare.

At this moment, in the Liao Kingdom Palace in Xijin Prefecture, Yelu Zongzhen and several trusted ministers he brought with him were discussing important matters.

The Liao Kingdom emperor was the type of person who followed the civil and military officials wherever the emperor went. There will not be the kind of emperor personally leading the army, while the civil and military officials will stay in the capital to handle state affairs.

But because they are afraid that the internal response of the Song Dynasty will discover his whereabouts and detect their plans at that time, they came secretly. The civil and military officials are still in Liaoyang Prefecture, and only some important ministers are around them at this time.

In addition to Xiao Ying, Xiao Hui, Xiao Xiaoyou, Xiao Xiaomu, Zhang Jian, Liu Liufu, Yelu Renxian and others, there are also important clans such as Yelu Zongyuan, Yelu Begut, and Yelu Tulukun.

Most of these clans are descendants of Emperor Shengzong of Liao or sons of brothers. Historically, they mainly served as generals in Shangjing and were responsible for the most core security issues of the Liao Dynasty. But at this moment, going out basically means that the Liao Dynasty has reached the moment of life and death.

The meeting was not held in the main hall, but in the study room in the backyard. Yelu Zongzhen sat behind the table, and the others sat in two rows. Zhang Jian was in the front, and opposite him sat Yelu Zongzhen's sixth brother Yelu Zongyuan.

Although historical records show that Yelu Zongzhen is the eldest son, he should actually be the eldest son. Only those whose mothers are from the Xiao clan of the later clan can be considered as the biological sons of the Yelu family. The rest have neither the qualification to inherit nor much power.

However, Yelu Zongyuan is an exception. He is 40 years old this year and is brave and good at fighting. In the late years of Emperor Shengzong of Liao, Yelu Zongyuan, who had just turned 20, followed the Liao general Yelu Ye to quell the rebellion of the Jurchens and Zubo, and was therefore named the General of the Left Guard.

Now he is the Prince of Raole County and the King of the Northern Courtyard, and is the military commander stationed in Shangjing by the Liao Kingdom. This time, the most elite 30,000 Pishi troops of the Liao Kingdom have been brought here for this decisive battle with the Song Dynasty.

In the room, Yelu Zongzhen raised the official document in his hand and said to everyone: "Song Kingdom sent Fan Zhongyan, the co-director of the Political System Institute, as the governor of Hebei Road a few days ago to coordinate the troops in Hebei. What do you think of this?"

"Song Kingdom has fallen into the trap. They are definitely going to attack us now. We just need to wait for them to tire themselves out and kill them by surprise!"

Xiao Xiaoyou, the governor of Nanjing, said happily.

"Your Majesty, this is a brilliant plan. Song is deploying troops on the border now, and they are bound to force us to withdraw from Goryeo. However, they don't know that we have already set up an ambush in Nanjing, waiting for them to fall into the trap."

"Compared to our active attack on Song, Song naturally has a better chance of winning if it takes the initiative to attack us. Your Majesty has easily let us gain the upper hand."

"I still remember vividly when Song killed our men with artillery. At that time, I could only feel despair. Fortunately, Your Majesty went against all odds and vigorously developed firearms. Now it is time for them to feel this kind of despair."

The following generals who had participated in the Song-Liao War talked a lot, especially Xiao Hui. It was he who sent Yelu Dilugu to fight, but the Song army did not follow the moral code of war and killed Yelu Dilugu with one cannon. Whenever he recalled Dilugu who was turned into minced meat, he felt nightmares.

But times have changed, although it is not a matter of offense and defense. But the Liao Kingdom also deployed a large number of artillery on the border. Even though the price was very heavy, the Liao people sold countless horses, furs, medicinal materials, and minerals to the Song Kingdom in exchange for so many raw materials for firearms.

However, they all felt that these were worth it. At least the Liao Kingdom’s military force is now extremely strong. It is far from the original Liao Kingdom. Even if facing the Song Dynasty, they are confident that they can defeat them in one fell swoop.

"Well, don't underestimate the Song Kingdom. They not only have artillery and grenades, but also have newly invented that kind of musket, which is a sharp weapon in field battles and must be defended."

Yelu Zongzhen still has some self-awareness. Although the artillery and the others have caught up, they have muskets and small steel cannons. When fighting in the field, their cannons weighed more than 2,000 kilograms, other people's muskets weighed several kilograms, and small steel cannons weighed more than 200 kilograms. Their flexibility was far incomparable.

After pouring cold water on everyone, Yelu Zongzhen did not continue to dwell on this topic for long, but continued: "Now that the Song Kingdom has entered the border, then it is time to consider the issues of defense and defensive counterattack."

There are some maps on his desk, which are topographic maps of Yanyun and the surrounding areas of Hebei. The border situations between Liao and Song are intertwined and embedded in each other.

For example, because they lost the land south of Zhuozhou in the last Liao-Song War, the Song Army highlighted a piece of their territory. However, the area of ​​Yuzhou and Wuqing was still in the hands of the Liao State, so the terrain became a concave shape, which was quite similar to attacking Zhuozhou of the Song State from both sides.

However, Yelu Zong really knew that it was said that it was attacking from both sides, but in fact it was blossoming in the middle. Because Zhuozhou is an extremely important strategic location and is too close to their Xijin mansion. Once a war breaks out, they can directly take Xijin from Fanyang City and seal their throat with a sword.

Looking at the situation of the enemy and ourselves on the map, Yelu Zongzhen pondered for a moment, then looked at the people below and said: "Song's army in Fan Yang is too deadly. What can you do?"

"For the current plan, we can only choose to deploy defenses around Xijin Mansion."

Xiao Xiaoyou, who was left behind in Nanjing and had been around Xijin Mansion for the longest time, naturally knew the situation. He said: "In the past, we were invincible in the field in Daliao, and the forged cities of the Song Dynasty could only shrink into the city. Now."

As he spoke, he looked a little embarrassed, but after a moment he continued: "Now the Song Dynasty has a slight advantage in the field battle, and the surrounding area of ​​Xijin Mansion is too vast, and there is no terrain that can be defended. It is almost all flat plains, and wild encounters , We have little chance of winning, so concentrating our efforts to defend Xijin is the best strategy.”

"Well"

Yelu Zongzhen nodded thoughtfully.

The other generals also said: "This is indeed the truth. Nanjing is a flat plain with no Yanshan Mountains to block it. The Song Dynasty also has many cavalry."

"Not only do they have cavalry, but they also have small artillery in the field. We in Daliao have always wanted to imitate this kind of small artillery, but when we cast it, the barrels often exploded. I heard that the iron they used was Baidu Steel. Where in Daliao? Come and make steel.”

"Alas, times have changed. I didn't expect that we in Daliao would experience what we are experiencing today."

Who would have thought that the Daliao army, which was once invincible in the field, would now be overtaken by others in the field it was best at, and even left far behind?

This is actually the fundamental factor behind the bipolar reversal in the status of the Liao and Song Dynasties.

After all, being invincible in the field is truly invincible, while defending an invincible city is actually a helpless move. As long as one besieges the city and runs out of food, it will be the end of the city being destroyed.

Therefore, these generals of the Liao Kingdom also felt a long-lost depression, far from the way they felt before, feeling invincible and happy.

"Okay, so be it."

Yelu Zongzhen said in a deep voice: "I am personally deploying the defense this time. I must make sure that when the Song Dynasty invades, it will hit a nail."

"yes."

Everyone agreed.

The meeting ended immediately, and many generals went to arrange defense arrangements.

Yelu Zongzhen originally planned to get up and leave, but suddenly he saw Zhang Jian still sitting on the chair and didn't move, so he knew that he had something to say to him, so he stayed where he was.

After everyone left, he said: "Father, is there something wrong with my arrangement?"

"Your Majesty did nothing wrong."

Zhang Jian shook his head slightly.

"That is?"

"It's just that the old minister is always a little uneasy."

"oh?"

Yelu Zongzhen asked: "What do you think makes you uneasy?"

"Can't tell."

Zhang Jian frowned.

There are basically no problems with this plan.

It should be said that it is the best solution to the current dilemma of Liao Kingdom and Xixia.

The dilemma of Liao and Xixia is that their catch-up is far behind the development of Song Dynasty.

When the national power of the Song Dynasty rises to a terrifying level, the destruction of the Liao and Xixia countries will not be far away.

But even now, even if the Liao Kingdom and Xixia State had all their strength, facing the Song Dynasty with countless cannon muzzles on the border, their chances of winning were still slim.

That's why they chose to attack Song's allies first, fully mobilize Song's army, or let Song rush to aid their allies, or lure Song to attack themselves, giving full play to their own strengths and the enemy's weaknesses.

But Zhang Jian didn't think Song Guoguo couldn't see it.

After all, this is actually a conspiracy. There is no shortage of smart people in the Song Dynasty court, so how could they not realize this.

But Fan Zhongyan is still so open and undisguised, which is too strange.

"I am thinking about how the Song Dynasty will attack us."

Zhang Jian said.

"What kind of way?"

Yelu Zongzhen was a little puzzled by the question and said: "In what other way can we send troops from Zhuozhou?"

"What if the Song Dynasty attacks from the sea?"

Zhang Jian stood up, came to Yelu Zongzhen's desk, pointed at the map and said: "If I were the Song Dynasty, I would send a fleet from Dengzhou to the north. Going north could block Yuguan and cut off the connection between our two southeastern capitals. , we can land in Pingzhou to the west and attack our rear in Xijin."

maritime?

Yelu Zongzhen frowned.

This is really something they didn't take into account.

The reason is that the Liao Kingdom has no idea what the Song army is doing at sea.

After all, every ship sent out was sunk, and the insider in the Song Dynasty only heard that the Song Dynasty had a naval military base in Hebei, Shandong, and Zhejiang.

As for what was going on inside, how many ships the Song army had, and how many naval soldiers there were, they were completely in the dark and had no idea.

It was not that the insider was incompetent, but that the Song army's military bases were all built in safe harbors. The safe harbors were often concave harbors with hills and mountains on both sides. The Song army surrounded the mountains on the periphery and did not allow people to go up.

In this way, it was difficult for the insider to judge the strength of the navy by standing on the top of the mountain and looking at the military base and counting the ships inside.

However, looking at the Song Dynasty army, the navy was basically something that could be dispensable, and the Liao people had never seen what the Song Dynasty navy looked like, so they subconsciously did not take it seriously.

But now that Zhang Jian mentioned it, Yelu Zongzhen seriously considered it.

"Even if the Song army has a navy, if the artillery is deployed on the top of the mountain, it can often shoot dozens of miles away. The higher the mountain, the farther the distance. Perhaps some artillery can be placed on the top of the mountain by the sea to deal with it."

Yelu Zongzhen said.

Zhang Jian smiled bitterly and said, "Laizhou, Pingzhou, Xijin, the coastline is nearly 700 to 800 miles, I'm afraid all our artillery may not be enough."

Yelu Zongzhen smiled and said, "These places are often sparsely populated. When the time comes, the Song Kingdom will send so many people. At most, it will be a small harassment force. The Grand Master is worrying too much."

"I hope I'm worrying too much."

Zhang Jian shook his head.

He always felt that the mysterious Song Dynasty navy would become a huge hidden danger for them.

But there is no way now.

After the meeting, Yelu Zongzhen went to deploy defenses in person.

He made full preparations for this trip south. In order to prevent being noticed by the Song Dynasty, Liao Kingdom's large number of troops went to Tokyo Liaoyang Prefecture on the surface, but in fact it was just a feint.

The main force quietly went south in batches. At this time, Liao Kingdom Nanjing already had more than 200,000 troops, and the number was even continuing to rise.

And it's not just Nanjing. In the year before last, Yelu Zongzhen established Xijing Road, Datong Prefecture as the seat of government, and deployed more than 100,000 troops on the border. So it can be said that most of the Liao army has appeared on the border between Song and Liao.

And just when Yelu Zongzhen was arranging his troops and preparing to resist the invading Song army.

At this moment, in Dengzhou, Jingdong Road, Song State, the whistling sea breeze blew, making the flags on the masts flutter.

In the shelter surrounded by mountains, dozens of huge ships raised their sails.

Countless sailors in the cabin stepped on the iron stirrups, and the sound of the iron chain rang. Under the human power, the wheels on both sides of the ship began to roll slowly, driving the ship forward.

The principle of this way of sailing is similar to that of a bicycle, but the ancient steel technology was not developed, and it was difficult to make iron chains that could withstand such a large force. And it is not easy to achieve technically.

However, now that the Song Dynasty is in the early stages of the first industrial revolution, the steel production has increased dramatically, so it can naturally do this.

In other words, the Liao Dynasty was lucky in that it chose a time when steam power was just being used, rather than being popularized. Otherwise, it would not be dozens of wooden ocean-going sailing ships that would be sailing, but ironclad ships.